Solar screens with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide: you have to pay attention to this

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are divided into nanoparticles

If you want to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, you usually use sunscreen with mineral UV filters containing the titanium dioxide or zinc oxide pigments. The problem with this: In fact, they are white and therefore leave a white film on the skin as a result. To avoid this, sunscreens are divided into microscopic particles called nanoparticles, which make them transparent.

But it is believed that these nanoparticles penetrate deep into the skin and cause damage. We show you what to look for in sunscreen.

Here's how mineral UV filters work

In sunscreens, zinc nanoparticles and titanium dioxide are used as physical or inorganic UV filters. These mineral filters block UV rays on the surface of the skin and reflect sunlight. They are particularly suitable for those who do not want to apply chemicals on their skin or who are allergic to chemical filters.

Sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are some of the most commonly used UV filters. They rarely cause allergic reactions and offer protection as a broad spectrum UV filter against UVA and UVB rays.

These are nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are tiny particles used in many cosmetic products such as deodorants, toothpastes or even sunscreens. With a size of 1 to 100 nanometers, they are incredibly tiny – a human hair is about 90,000 nanometers wide.

Because of their small size, nanoparticles are thought to be membrane permeable, so they penetrate deeply through natural skin barriers and accumulate in the body, which can have negative consequences for the body. . Little is known about the effects of nanotechnology on humans and the environment, as well as on possible long-term damage.

This is how studies evaluate nanoparticles

However, previous studies have clearly shown that, according to most results, the nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate further than the outermost layer of skin on healthy and non-healthy skin damaged and are therefore harmless. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (CSAS) of the European Commission also found that zinc and titanium dioxide in nanoforms were safe. However, this also indicates that the general data is still incomplete and incomplete.

However, the SCCS warns against inhaling nanoparticles of titanium oxide and zinc oxide. In addition, according to a result of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, titanium dioxide is potentially carcinogenic when inhaled in large doses. Therefore, avoid solar treatments containing titanium dioxide and nano-sized zinc oxide. So you prefer to apply the sunscreen directly to the skin rather than spray it.

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